Adjustable cupola



Filed July 6, 1962 INVENTOR. /-58 HELGER L. FORSMAN "J BY 50 g FIG 3 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,216,161 ADJUSTABLE CUPOLA Helger L. Forsman, 725 Stow St., Kent, Ohio Filed July 6, 1962, Ser. No. 207,942 6 Claims. (Ci. 52200) This invention relates to the art of roof cupolas and in particular has reference to an improved type of cupola that has an adjustable base that permits the cupola to be mounted over the ridge of a gable roof regardless of the pitch of the roof.

While cupolas have long been used on roofs for decorative and various other purposes, it has been the normal procedure in the past to prefit the cupola to the slant of the roof in question with the result that cupolas are normally tailored to fit a particular roof.

While cupolas of this type have been in use for several years, it follows that the preparation and installation of the same requires a greater amount of time to accomplish because of the requirement that the cupola be tailor fit to the pitch of the roof in question.

It has been discovered that the above described disadvantages can be obviated by producing a cupola that has an adjustable base that is designed to fit over the ridge of a normal gable roof with the base being adjustable so as to be readily attached to any existing roof of the gable type construction, without the requirement for any cutting, measuring, or trimming of any type.

It has been further discovered that the adjustability advantages above discussed can also be utilized in connection with flashing components that are provided on the cupola itself so that the cupola in question can be readily nailed to the roof surface in question.

Production of an adjustable cupola having the above described features accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention with other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved adjustable cupola.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are vertical sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 and 33 specifically of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, the improved adjustable cupola, generally designated by the numeral 10, includes a cupola housing 11 and an adjustable base 12 that is designed for the purpose of properly seating the cupola with respect to a gable roof, with the members 11 and 12 being joined together to form the unitary cupola as clearly shown in FIGURE 1.

From the standpoint of detailed construction, the particular housing 11 shown here may be considered as having a front side 20, a rear side 21 (FIGURE 3) and opposed side portions 22 and 23.

In this regard, in the embodiment of the invention shown herein, the housing is, in fact, formed by the use of elongate angular members 24, 25, 26 (FIGURE 1) and 27 (FIGURE 2). Elongate decorative louvers 3030 are connected at their opposed ends between the said angular members to span the space therebetween, so as to provide a four-sided ventilated appearance to the cupola as shown in FIGURE 1. Further, in this regard,

a top surface 31 is provided in covering relationship to the components just described.

In this regard and for the purpose of description, the component elements just described will be considered as making up the cupola housing while the remaining components that make up the adjustable base will now be described.

Accordingly and referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be first noted that a front support member in the form of a flat plate 40 is shown spanning the space between the angular supports 24 and with the plate 40 being connected to said supports by the usual rivet or other fastening device 41-41 so as to enclose the space beneath the lowermost louver a as shown in FIGURE 1.

The plate has a formed flange 42 that is bent at an acute :angle with respect to the plate. Said flange 42 is designed to provide nailing surfaces for securing the cupola with respect to the roof in question.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a similar plate 43 having a flange 44 is positioned at its opposed end-s with respect to the angular supports 26 and 27 and spans the space between said supports. This plate 43 is thus disposed in opposed relationship to the just described plate 40, with the flange 44 thereof serving to again provide a nailing surface for attachment of the rear portion of the cupola with respect to the roof.

In order to provide adjustment for varying roof pitches, as has been previously indicated, the space beneath the lowermost louver 30b is shown enclosed by a side closure panel that is generally designated by the numeral with this side closure panel 50 being in fact made up of a plurality of panel closure elements 51, 52, 53 and 54, that coact together to form an overall closure panel for the lower side portion of the cupola 10.

In this regard, and referring next to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be noted that the panels 51, 52, 53 land 54 are all of quadrilateral configuration and further all include right angle flange projections 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a with these projections being intended to provide nailing surfaces for the purpose of securing the cupola with respect to the roof in question.

Referring again to FIGURE 2 and referring first to the panel 51, it will be noted that the same is provided with an aperture 55 at the lower left hand corner so as to permit pivotal interconnection between the panel 51 and the lower end of the angular support 26. A slot 510 is shown disposed adjacent the opposed edge 51d of panel 51 with this slot 510 being designed to receive a bolt 56 that is carried by the panel 52 adjacent the edge 5212. A second slot (not shown) is provided in the flange 51a adjacent the end 51e so as to receive the fastening bolt 57 that is carried by the flange 52a of panel 52 as shown in FIGURE 1. Thus, the panel 52 is connected to the panel 51 in overlying adjustable relationship.

The panel 54 is mounted in similar fashion with respect to the elongate angular support 25 and accordingly pin or nut 58 is shown pivotally connecting the panel 54 with respect to the elongate angular support 25 while slot 54b receives pin or nut 59 that is carried by the panel 53 with fastening pin or nut 60 also riding in a slot provided in flange 54a adjacent the edge 540. Thus, panels 53 and 54 are connected in a fashion similar to that above referred to in regard to panels 51 and 52.

It should be noted that the nut 60 Will preferably be of the flat head variety, as is the nut 57 connecting panels 51 and 52, so that flanges 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a may fit flush with the roof as will be more fully described below.

The panels 52 and 53 are further pivotally pinned together by the pin or nut 61 and as a result of the aforementioned structure, it will be noted that the panels 51, 52, 53 and 54 can be moved between the full and chain dotted line position of FIGURE 3 as a result of the aforementioned pivot and slot type of connections.

In this regard, it is preferred that the flange 52a be made slightly longer than the length of the panel 52 so that the end 52d thereof can be formed in an angle to overlie the flange 53a as shown in FIGURE 1.

It is to be understood that in the particular embodiment of the invention shown, the remaining opposed side unit is of identical configuration and accordingly would be made in opposite hand relationship to the panel members just described so that further description of the remaining side elements is not believed necessary for the purpose of fully describing this invention.

It is also to be understood that while the particular form of the invention shown has two opposed adjustable side units, the invention is not intended to be limited to this structure. For example, all four sides of the base could be constructed of panels similar to panels 51, 52, 53 and 54. Similarly, three, two or one side could be of this construction with the remaining side or sides of identical configuration with side 40. In this manner, the cupola can be utilized on roofs of varied construction.

In use or operation of the improved device, it will be first assumed that the component parts have been assembled as indicated and at this time, it is merely necessary that the flanges of the side closure elements be adjusted until the same are flush with the roof and at this time and in the event that the elements 56, 57 and 59, 60 are bolts, the same may be merely tightened so as to lock the side closure panel in the appropriate angular relationship. Following this, the front flange 42 and the rear flange 44 can be nailed in place on the roof followed by the nailing in place of the flange elements 51a, 52, 53a and 54a. It is understood, that the order in which the flanges are secured to the roof is a matter of choice.

When all sets of side panels are in place, the unit is completely installed and no further work is required.

With regard to the preferred material employed, the invention has been illustrated in connection with an aluminum or other lightweight type of metallic structure although it is to be understood that the principle of adjustable closure panels herein involved could be equally utilized with wood or other material that could be adjusted in the same fashion. It will further be noted that the use of the slots in the panel elements 51 and 54 permits the attainment of an infinite number of roof angles between the various flange elements of the side closure panels. Also, this structure permits locating of the cupola out of central line relationship with respect to the ridge so that the cupola can be shifted forwardly for increased angular positions if desired.

FIGURE 4 shows an improved form of the invention in which the slots of panels 54 and 51 have been eliminated. This is accomplished by having the flanges 51a and 54a formed with lips or flanges 54c which telescopically receive the flanges 52a and 53a respectively. The flanges 52a and 53a are thus slidably received within these lips. In this manner, the adjustable features of the side closure panels are retained.

The operation of the improved device of FIGURE 4 is identical to that above described except that when the panels are in the desired angular disposition, it is merely necessary to crimp or pinch the lips of flanges 51a and 54a upon the flanges 52a and 53a at which time the angular relationship of the panels becomes fixed. At that time the various flange members may be nailed in place and the unit will then be completely installed.

While a full and complete description of the invention has been made in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the original embodiment herein shown.

Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable cupola for use on the ridge of a gable roof, comprising;

(A) a cupola housing including (1) front, rear and opposed side surfaces that interconnect with each other and with a top surface;

(B) an adjustable base support depending from said housing and including i (1) front and rear opposed adjustable support members having divergent mounting elements adapted to engage said roof at opposed sides of said ridge and (2) first and second adjustable side closure panels adapted to close off the space between the sides of said housing and said roof;

(C) said divergent mounting elements each including (1) a pair of first panels pivotally connected to opposed corners of said housing for movement relatively thereof; and

(2) a pair of second panels each slidably connected to one of said first panels and pivotally connected to each other, whereby the angular relationship between said mounting elements may be varied relatively of said housing; and

(D) means for controlling the adjustment of said adjustable support.

2. An adjustable cupola for use onthe ridge of a gable roof, comprising;

(A) a cupola housing including 1) front, rear and opposed side surfaces that interconnect with each other and with a top surface;

(2) said front, rear and side surfaces being normally in substantially vertical position;

(B) an adjustable base support depending from said housing and including (1) at least one adjustable support member that has divergent adjustable mounting elements each having one end pivotally attached to said housing and having their opposed ends pivotally connected to each other;

(C) means for varying the overall length of said mounting elements (1) whereby the angle between said elements may be varied while said housing is in substantially vertical position;

(D) said mounting elements of said adjustable support member having integral flanges projecting substantially perpendicularly from the bottom edges thereof parallel to the surface of said roof; and

(E) adjustable side closure panels closing off the space between the remaining sides of said housing and said roof.

3. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the fact that said side closure panels include adjustable flanges disposed on the edges thereof said are normally disposed adjacent said roof whereby said side closure panels may be secured to said roof.

4. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the fact that said adjustable mounting elements each include a pair of panels; said panels being adjustably interconnected in overlying relationship to each other.

70 5. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the presence of means for controlling the adjustment of said adjustable support members.

6. A cupola for use on the ridge of a gable roof of the character described, comprising;

(A) a cupola housing;

5 6 (B) a mounting frame depending from said housing References Cited by the Examiner and including UNITED STATES PATENTS (1) elongate support members each having one 515 482 2/94 Richmond end pivotally attached to said housing and hav- 758510 4/04 Dickinson 6 X ing their opposed ends pivotally connected to 5 1,322:711 11/19 Maranviue X each other and being adjustable to vary their 2,737,876 3/56 Smith 98 42 Overalllengths 2,882,810 4/59 Goettl 9842 X (a) whereby said guide members define V- Shaped support elements adapted to be HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Przmary Exammer.

ceived on roofs of varying w 10 JACOB SHAPIRO, EARL J. WITMER, Examiners. 

2. AN ADJUSTABLE CUPOLA FOR USE ON THE RIDGE OF A GABLE ROOF, COMPRISING; (A) A CUPOLA HOUSING INCLUDING (1) FRONT, REAR AND OPPOSED SIDE SURFACES THAT INTERCONNECT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH A TOP SURFACE; (2) SAID FRONT, REAR AND SIDE SURFACES BEING NORMALLY IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION; (B) AN ADJUSTABLE BASE SUPPORT DEPENDING FROM SAID HOUSING AND INCLUDING (1) AT LEAST ONE ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MEMBER THAT HAS DIVERGENT ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING ELEMENTS EACH HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID HOUSING AND HAVING THEIR OPPOSED ENDS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER; (C) MEANS FOR VARYING THE OVERALL LENGTH OF SAID MOUNTING ELEMENTS (1) WHEREBY THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID ELEMENTS MAY BE VARIED WHILE SAID HOUSING IS IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION; (D) SAID MOUNTING ELEMENTS OF SAID ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING INTEGRAL FLANGES PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE BOTTOM EDGES THEREOF PARALLEL TO THE SURFACE OF SAID ROOF; AND (E) ADJUSTABLE SIDE CLOSURE PANELS CLOSING OFF THE SPACE BETWEEN THE REMAINING SIDES OF SAID HOUSING AND SAID ROOF. 